been playing with this today and you can get some really nice rythyms out of this unit too, if you run a jumper straight from pin 2 or pin 3 (or both for another rythym) to the output capactior (positive side)

also a very high resistance pot in place of r4 (i used a 2m pot) gives some really nice sounds, slows the whole thing right down.

Thanks for sharing this circuit! I like it a lot! Crazy sounds. I've experimented with pot values and cap values, and there's some interesting stuff. Changing which pins to use on the 4040 gives different stuff too. I'm thinking of putting it in a box.

Since they all have the same pin configuration, I blindly tried swapping the 4011 for a 4070 XOR, 4071 OR, 4077 XNOR and 4081 AND, but none of them produced anything. Maybe I messed something up.

Since they all have the same pin configuration, I blindly tried swapping the 4011 for a 4070 XOR, 4071 OR, 4077 XNOR and 4081 AND, but none of them produced anything. Maybe I messed something up.

You didn't mess anything up; you just used the wrong chips

The 4011 NANDs, which are incorrectly drawn as NORs, are configured as oscillators. A 4070 XOR output will be 0 if both inputs are the same, so in this circuit it won't oscillate. Similarly -- or rather, inversely -- a 4077 XNOR output will be 1 if both inputs are the same, so that won't oscillate here either. The 4071 OR and 4081 AND don't invert, so those will not oscillate.

they are incorrectly drawn as i just changed the schematic from some 4001's and changed the text on the chip
i put it down to unadulterated ignorance.
and ty all for the kind words. this may form part of my "i propose a challenge" setup. but if it doesnt its been great fun messing about with these cmos chips.

You didn't mess anything up; you just used the wrong chips
[... explanations ...]
If you had tried a 4001 NOR it would've worked.

Yeah, thanks for the explanations... I figured it had something to do with the logic, but I was too dumb/lazy to work it out in advance. I was just hoping I'd get lucky. Alas, I don't have any 4001's on hand.

Anyhow, I'm playing with the circuit right now. With various mods, it's pumping out a slow beat, which is not completely regular. And I like that.

[edit: added: ] Oh, yeah, I forgot to mention... I've got this plugged into my oscilloscope, and either it just can't keep up, or this thing puts out the bizarrest patterns! Maybe I'll try to do a little video.

OK, after changing cap values, adding a cap switch box for C2, and the configuration of which pins are used on the 4040, i made this little video of my oscilloscope screen whilst i tweaked knobs and switches....

OK, I've been working on this box since July and finally finished it. And now I see the Yum Yum Box also based on this crazy great circuit! Originally called the "Spooly J. Master" then shortened to "Spooly J" (partly because the enclosure I went with was a bit cramped for all the panel stuff).

The way I came up with to make this very flexible was to have 4 tap points and a matrix of terminals, each one connected to a different Q output of the 4040. Sounds like a recipe for chip-frying with static!
Also, the box is sensitive to flesh on the left side... i.e. moving your hand near it can change the sound!

4 tap points and a matrix of terminals, each one connected to a different Q output of the 4040.

I don't understand what you mean. What are the 4 tap points? How you wire that?
Thanks!

Thanks and welcome to the forum!

OK, maybe I should draw a schematic of what I built, but I'm leaving town a few days, so it will have to wait. In the meantime, perhaps I can explain referring to Bubzy's schematic...

Firstly, the matrix of "Powers of Two" terminals (bolts) are numbered 1 through 12, and they are wired directly to the corresponding Q output pins of the 4040. e.g. terminal 1 is wired to Q1, terminal 3 is wired to Q3, etc..

Now, on the schematic... see the wire between pin 9 of the 4040 and the anode of D2? Well, instead of connecting it to pin 9, I connect it to my tap point "D" terminal. Now, with the alligator clip on that terminal, I can make the same connection as in the schematic (i.e to pin 9, which is Q1) by clipping it onto the "1" terminal. Or, I could connect it to any of the other Q outputs, thus making it more flexible.

Hi! Thanks for the welcoming ! This is a great forum. Sorry, I should have said hello before posting, I was too excited by that Spooly Master !

Thanks RingMad for taking the time to explain it. I'm not sure though about the "D" Terminal. If you don't mind drawing a schematic, I'll be more than happy. If you don't, I'll come back with some questions...

Hi!
I know this is a simple circuit, I thought I would be able to do it but I have to confess that my reading skills for schematic are zero. Does someone have a picture of the breaboard finished? I would be a great help for learning ...

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